Originally Posted by
televisor
I wouldn't be so sure about this. There are plenty of brits in the US too, I'm not convinced that the majority of British GE applications actually happened from the UK.
I won't dispute it's still useful - but I don't see how it would affect the CBP workload: it seems more efficient to have them in the US rather than temporarily hire/station officers in the UK. After all most other nationalities also have to interview in the US (although there do seem to be interview locations in singapore at the embassy, and possibly in Dubai - but Dubai having preclearance means that CBP officers are stationed there long-term).
Who said about temporary? There are pre-clearance facilities in Ireland and UAE, so the least CBP can do is to open a GE post in London. I do not think it is unreasonable to think that most UK-based GE applicants are likely to be within reasonable commuting distance from London, so could make the trip if it allowed them to take care of it here. The reason I think that doing so is more efficient is because it deals with the situation at source rather than asking Brits to compete with US residents for slots over the pond. Also, being able to take of everything without needing to travel and then experience it for the first time during the very next trip makes for a better overall satisfaction.
Originally Posted by
BAGoldBoy
We had our interview in MIA and absolutely no problem booking two slots back to back. Shame BA isn't part of the scheme.
Quite. I did mine in Miami and there was lots of slots. Even when connecting, there was plenty of time to go land-side, do the interview and then re-clear security. Too bad all airports do not have the same opening hours for GE interviews. For example, Charlotte has flights from UK arriving in the afternoon and evening, but its office opening hours are Mon-Fri 0830-1530. Therefore, no chance to make it even if you arrive on the first flight from Heathrow. And slots were always full for weeks/months in advance when I was checking last year.